This 88.7-mile drive from Gunnison, UT to Orem, UT takes approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll primarily travel on Veterans Memorial Highway and SR 28 before reaching West Center Street in Orem. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, this route is budget-friendly for a single day's excursion. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience, not a monotonous journey. Since it's a relatively short drive within the same state and region, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best, without needing to plan for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.3 miles from Gunnison, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 88.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 44% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, offering a solid period of consistent travel. As you progress, the road conditions and scenery will likely change, transitioning from the open feel of the highway to potentially more varied terrain as you approach your destination. This isn't a purely high-speed interstate cruise, nor is it a winding mountain pass; it’s a blend that keeps the driving engaging without being overly demanding.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 47.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 39.6 miles in near I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 39.6 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
39.6 mi into trip|~59m in|I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
86.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward Orem, Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 271
Toward Orem, Center Street
7
87 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
88.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
88.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|US 89 / State Street
Turn sharp right onto US 89 / State Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
47.1 mi
47m
SR 28
38.7 mi
57m
West Center Street
1.5 mi
3m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Center Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
State Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 47.1 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gunnison, UT and Orem, UT.
1
Start on US 89
0.3 mi·49 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on SR 28
30 mi·44 min·SR 28
3
At end of road, turn right onto SR 28
8.8 mi·13 min·SR 28
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto I 15
47 mi·47 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 271Toward Orem, Center StreetUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
448 ft·12 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Turn straight onto West Center Street
1.5 mi·3 min·West Center Street
9
Continue on East Center Street
223 ft·7 sec·East Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right
173 ft·13 sec
11
Turn sharp right onto US 89
135 ft·7 sec·State Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 89
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 51-minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you can leave Gunnison at your leisure. The estimated fuel cost of $14 means you won't need to worry extensively about frequent refueling stops, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 47.1-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be spaced out. Plan for a brief stop if needed, but the relatively short distance allows for flexibility in your pacing.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.3 miles from Gunnison, UT, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.3 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orem, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gunnison, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gunnison, UT
This is one driving day of about 88.7 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Gunnison, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 47.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.3 mi from Gunnison, UT
· 1h 4m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
National Monument
The visitor center, caves, and cave tours have not yet opened for the 2026 season. Hike your way past stunning vistas to explore a hidden underground world. Taste the thrill of caving as you twist and...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$12
near mile 88.7
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.06 one way
$28.11 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$14.73
$29.47
premium
$4.53
$15.82
$31.65
diesel
$5.61
$19.58
$39.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.31
$4.26
Efficient EV
22.2
0
$7.76
$3.55
EV Truck/SUV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Gunnison, UT
Afternoon
in Gunnison on Friday
Local time
12:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Orem, UT
Afternoon
in Orem on Friday
Local time
12:59 PM
MDT
Current temp
26°F
Slight Chance Snow Showers
NW 6 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gunnison, UT to Orem, UT covers 88.7 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Highway, SR 28, West Center Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.3 miles from Gunnison, UT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.06 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.6 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 86.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gunnison, UT to Orem, UT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Timpanogos Cave National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
